a16z Podcast
a16z Managing Partner and Head of Global Partnerships Jen Kha joins MTS hosts Theo Jaffee and Sophia Dew to discuss a16z’s Machine Age Fund and the investment thesis behind rebuilding the physical infrastructure that powers AI.
Jen explains why chips, networking, memory, cooling, data centers, and other parts of the physical computing stack are becoming investable again after decades in which software captured much of the industry’s attention. As AI demand pushes existing infrastructure to its limits, she explains why a16z created a dedicated fund and why hardware founders are increasingly rethinking the stack from first principles.
They also discuss the global race to adopt AI, what hardware startups need beyond capital, the backlash against data centers in the U.S., and why experienced systems builders are returning to entrepreneurship as a new generation of infrastructure gets built.
Resources:
Follow Jen Kha on X: https://x.com/jkhamehl
Follow Theo Jaffee on X: https://x.com/theojaffee
Follow Sophia Dew on X: https://x.com/sophiadew
Follow MTS on X: https://x.com/mtslive
Stay Updated:
Find a16z on YouTube: YouTube
Find a16z on X
Find a16z on LinkedIn
Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify
Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts
Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg
Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
-
Apple’s Big Reveals, OpenAI’s Multi-Step Models, and Firefly Does Video
This week in consumer tech: Apple’s big reveals, OpenAI’s multi-step reasoning, and Adobe Firefly’s video model. Olivia Moore and Justine Moore, Partners on the a16z Consumer team, break down the latest announcements and how these…
-
Grand Challenges in Healthcare AI
Vijay Pande, founding general partner, and Julie Yoo, general partner at a16z Bio + Health, come together to discuss the grand challenges facing healthcare AI today. The talk through the implications of AI integration in…
-
Governing democracy, the internet, and boardrooms
with @NoahRFeldman, @ahall_research, @rhhackett Welcome to web3 with a16z. I’m Robert Hackett and today we have a special episode about governance in many forms — from nation states to corporate boards to internet services and…
-
It’s Time to Build in Healthcare
Half of prescribed medications are never taken, and 88% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy. Despite spending 20% of our GDP on healthcare—twice that of any other developed nation—our outcomes still lag behind. In this episode,…
-
Latin America: A Tech Powerhouse?
Latin America is emerging as a tech powerhouse, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all market. In this episode, we explore why what works in Argentina won’t necessarily fly in Brazil or Mexico, and how companies are…
-
The SSN Breach: What Now?
In this episode, we cover the recent data breach of nearly 3B records, including a significant number of social security numbers. Joining us to discuss are security experts Joel de la Garza and Naftali Harris.…
-
Building Innovation Hubs: The UK & Beyond
This episode from Web3 with a16z Crypto, is all about innovation on a global scale, exploring both ecosystem and individual talent levels. We examine what works and what doesn’t, how certain regions evolve into startup…
-
The Olympics of Talent: France’s Tech Boom
Once criticized for lacking ambition, French founders are now aiming to create the world’s largest companies. With a thriving ecosystem attracting talent from across Europe and the US, France is becoming a major player on…
-
Building the World’s Most Trusted Driver
Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have driven over 20 million miles on public roads and billions more in simulation. In this episode, a16z General Partner David George sits down with Dmitri Dolgov, CTO at Waymo, to discuss…
-
From AI to Instant Replay: The Technology Behind the Olympics
The Olympics features over 11,000 athletes competing in 32 sports, attracting an audience of more than 10 million. In this episode, Charlie Ebersol, co-founder of the Alliance of American Football and Infinite Athlete, explores how…